There is a unmistakable fragrance of spices in her name,
a hint of pride in a legacy that she flaunts ever so graciously. Kollam,
Quilon, Desinganadu..call her what you will, and she will answer in the
only way she knows; with a appealing wave of coconut palms, the
mesmerizing sound of backwaters setting a soothing background score.
People come, people see and eventually people fall in love with the lustre
of her historic tapestry. Situated to the north of Thiruvananthapuram,
between the eight-cornered Ashtamudi Lake and the Lakshadweep Sea, this
district takes the credit for being the hub of the country's cashew
trading and processing industry. And though the cashewnut trade traces a
different graph, Kollam rewards you in more ways than one. The sight of
white egrets dipping into the clear waters of the Ashtamudi Lake on a
moonlit night, is simply stunning. At the many temples, mosques and
churches of this trivial town, you will meet people eager to share their
stories and monuments. The tsunami of December 2004 did affect Kollam, and
the indignant waters snatched 131 lives, but it is a measure of the town's
resilence that it is already looking ahead. With so much to do, feel and
taste in Kollam, one surely cannot forget the undeniable charm of this
town throughout his life.

Chapters of Antiquity

The official name, Kollam, is thought to be a derivative
of 'kolam', the Sanskrit word for pepper. But the tourists who visit this
part of Kerala, love to call her 'swapna desham', or dreamland. Even Marco
Polo, who dropped by in the 13th century, could only describe her in
glowing terms. The old sea port town of Kollam on the Arabian coast, has
always enjoyed a commercial reputation since the days of the Phoenicians
and the Romans. Nurtured by the Chinese trade, it was regarded by Ibn
Batuta in the 14th century, as one of the most bustling ports, which he
had seen in the course of his travels during a period of twenty four
years.

Things You Would Never Want To Miss

Most of the sights in Kollam are contoured within a
radius of 8-10 km from the city centre. One can start a tour from the
Residency Guest House and the Adventure Park, shop at Chinnakada and then
go to Thirumullavaram and Thangasseri beaches. Spend the next morning at
the cashewnut farms. Keep half a day for backwater cruise and wind up the
day with a perfect dinner at one of the lakeside resorts. On the third
day, visit Neenadakara Port.

Thirumullavaram Beach - Kollam

Mess With The Sands

The sheltered recess of the calm Arabian sea,
Thirumullavaram, is situated 6 km away from the heart of the city and
still carves its own niche in the hearts of the people who come here for a
holiday. The inaudible waves are just perfect for swimming and bathing.
Tan your skin in the flames of the sun or bask in the splendour of the
sunset. After a true madman show on the beach, refresh yourself with a sip
of tender coconut water - a taste of nature's reviving nectar. If you
happen to be there during a low tide, you can see the Nyarazhacha Paara
(Sunday Rock), nestling about 1 ½ km in the lap of the Arabian Sea.
Visit the Mahavishnu Temple, believed to have been consecrated by
Parasurama, the legendary creator of Kerala. You will be amazed to see two
idols perching in the same sanctum - a bizarre feature not usually found
in Indian Temples - an idol of Vishnu facing east and Shiva facing west.

Holiday On Backwaters

A houseboat trip is must in your Kollam itinerary. Get to
the jetty near the bus station and you can see hundreds of colourful house
boats resting by the canal, only when a tourist is seen do the picture
spring up to life competing for business. If you are staying at one of the
lakeside hotels, you can board the boat from there itself. The Kayal
Pradakshina Cruise would take you to the Munroe Island, formed by the
backwaters of Astamudi and Kallada River. However, the backwater tour from
Kollam to Alappuzha is the longest cruise in Kerala and takes around 8
hours to culminate. It is a delightful ride, and you can see lotuses and
water lilies growing in the water, water birds calling from the banks and
otters splashing their hearts out. Take up a nice sunbathing spot on the
roof of the boat and sit back, relaxed and enjoy the views. As the boat
will continue its journey through the backwaters, you will pass through
myriad rural settlements sited on narrow strips of land amid labyrinthine
waterways. You can see the folks engaged in routine activities; boat men
taking goods and materials from one village to the next, children
swimming, women washing clothes, and fishermen winding up their fishing
nets in traditional wooden boats.

Go Nuts At Kollam

Kollam is widely known as the Cashew Paradise in Kerala,
and affords a wide cultivation and processing techniques. Plan a visit ot
the sprawling cashew gardens and you can have a close rendezvous with this
kidney-shaped fruit of great commercial importance. The nut grows on the
end of a fleshy, pear-shaped stalk, called the cashew apple, which is
white, yellow, or red, juicy and slightly acid, and is eaten or fermented
to make wine. The shell yields a light-colored oil - said to be the equal
of olive oil - which has a lot therapeutic usages. And ultimately it is
the taste that enchants every visitor. Get a packet of fried cashews, and
you cannot resist yourself with just one. It's true that "Nobody can
eat just one".

Explore The Heart of Kollam

The square-shaped clock tower, which you can see from any
part of historic Chinnakada market, is the best place to start touring
Kollam. Tourists can visit the Thevally Palace, currently used by the
Indian Army. Though most of it has been repainted, still the ambrosial
palace displays a magnificent view from the lake. You can hear stories
about the faithful dog who used to swim across the lake just to deliver
his master's love. Legend has it that a Britishman, who lived across the
lake fell in love with a lady from the palace. One day the dog was found
dead, and only a crumbling pedestal stands today as a placard of loyalty.
The 144 ft. Thangassery Light House, built in 1902, nestling on the
sun-kissed sands of Thangassery is a must see. Drive 8 km from Kollam on
NH 47, on the Alleppey route to reach Neendakara. Once a fishing harbour
under the Indo-Norwegian project, today it is more famous as a viewing
point for 'Chaakara', a post monsoon phenomenon that occurs just off the
coast. Interstingly, the nature makes it own room with elevated mud banks,
creating a lagoon teeming with prawn, sardines and shrimps.

Choose Your Steps

Kollam is situated on NH 47 that links Salem to
Kanyakumari, via Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Alleppy. So if you
happen to be in any of these destinations, feel free to take the NH 47. If
you are flying by air, disembark at Thiruvananthapuram airport and take a
private taxi to cover 67 km to reach Kollam. If you plan to come from
Delhi, take the Kerala Express. Otherwise, take the Kanyakumari or Quilon
Express, if happen to come from Mumbai.

Top 5 Reasons To Visit Kollam

What's In A Name
Plan a holiday trip to Kollam, also known as Quilon or Desinganadu,
the place which takes the credit for being the hub of the country's
cashew trading and processing industry. Affording an impeccable blend
of scenic surrounding, tradition and hospitality, Kollam is often
referred to as the dreamland of Kerala..

Wet Your Spirits With The Sands and Then Clean
Them In The Sea
Serene, secluded and spellbinding. Plan a holiday tour to
Thirumullavaram beach, located 6 km from Kollam city centre and give
your holiday a different colour. Get a tan. Build sandcastles. Or
simply sift sand through your toes. Anything you do here will relax
you and help you unwind.

Spend A Day On The Surface of BackWater
Spend a few days of your vacation trip in Kerala cruising on Kollam
backwaters and add an imperative part to your memory. Take a sunbath
on the roof of the boat drenched in herbal oils and look for otters
playing amidst water lilies grown in the water. Visit the nearby areas
through labyrinthine waterways and get a close look of the rural
Malayali lifestyle.

Go Crazy With Kollam Nuts
You can get raw, fried, grilled, salted and spiced cashews at
surprisingly affordable rates from Kollam, where cashew plantations
abound. Buy half-a-dozen of those packets, because you cannot afford
to eat just one.

Where The Nature Build Its own Way
Plan a trip just after the monsoons and you cannot bypass the
magnificent vista of 'Chaakara', a post monsoon phenomenon that occurs
just off the coast. Climb the cliffs and you can see how nature carves
its own tank and then fills the same with a wide variety of fishes,
prawns, and sardines..

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